Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art

About this Work

The hei tiki has become a symbol for not only Māori culture but also the modern nation of New Zealand. Made of nephrite, a valued material, hei tiki are usually 2-7 inches in height. Used for weapons, tools, and ornaments, this form of jade was only found on New Zealand’s South Island, thereby increasing its value.

Hei tiki were historically heirlooms passed down from generation to generation, and believed to acquire some of the spiritual power possessed by each owner. Though it does not realistically depict an ancestor, hei tiki are associated and named after specific ancestors.

This hei tiki is unusual in its great size. It is believed that the larger hei tiki come from a later date and were created with metal tools, perhaps in a response to European taste for larger objects.